Enclosures for retro projects

[Phil__G]

These are ideal for retro builds using Grant Searle / Jeff Tranter / PICL pcbs:
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/general-purpose-enclosures/2006674
Not too expensive, sturdy, good access BUT RS are on their final 4 units before its discontinued - hence the heads-up.

Clockwise from top right, KO2019, Densetsu CDP1802, Grant Searle 32k 6809, basic Grant Searle 32k Z80, Grant Searle 32k Z80 with switchable SCM or BASIC, Grant Searle Z80 with two 64k switchable banks - this is the one I did the Zen port on. All have NVRAM.

Cheers
Phil

[ortek_service]

Yes, quite good cases and not too bad a price (especially for RS).
Although maybe nice to be a bit wider, to accommodate common 100x100mm 'Beermat' size boards.

Any markings on your as to the true manufacturer? (Or have RS had them made unbranded , marked with RS Pro?)

It wasn't easy to find exact same -size ones from other supplier from a quick Google.
But battling with RS's (not great) Parametric search - e.g

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/enclosures-server-racks/enclosures/general-purpose-enclosures/?selectedNavigation=attributes.Body_Material=304%20Stainless%20Steel||ABS||Polycarbonate%20V0||Polyc arbonate^attributes.IP_Rating=IP30^attributes.Colour=Light%20Grey||Black^attributes.External_Dimensi ons=147.6%20x%2092.5%20x%2050.3mm||147.6%20x%2092.5%20x%2036.2mm||146%20x%2091%20x%2043.3mm

has found a few similar ones - mostly in Black (around the same price) or Light Grey (for a bit more) / ABS (rather than Polycarbonate), including a bit-higher one of a bit more space on the panel is needed:

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/general-purpose-enclosures/1920773
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/general-purpose-enclosures/2006675
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/general-purpose-enclosures/2006676

[Phil__G]

Hi Owen, yes I've found that often RS list the very same item under two or more different catalogue numbers. I expect its the difficulty of managing such a huge range of items. As you can see I've kind of standardized on this particular case, with quite a few builds

Unrelated, I do wish RS items had a 'Report' button for logged-in users, so description or spec errors could be brought to their attention

[ortek_service]

The ones I'd found weren't quite identical - either in Black (so wouldn't match your others / harder to label without inverse-colour tapes?), or ABS rather than Polycarbonate. And one a bit higher in size.
If CPC sell an equivalent, then they are usually cheapest but aren't very-good at packing things - I recently had many damaged plastic-case etc items, as they'd checked it all in one large box. Whereas their Farnell parent company are much more-professional (and usually more-expensive!).

I hadn't spotted any duplicate RS numbers for this particular one.
But with things like old Weller soldering iron tips etc. there can often be different stock numbers usually at different prices.

Even Digi-key / Mouser? etc still often do this with Texas Instruments SMD IC's, depending on whether the part number ends in R(eel) or T(ape) - having different prices even when buying the same (<< than full-reel) quantity and all supplied as cut-tape!
Although that's down to TI always including that suffix on their manufacturer part number, rather than just the ordering number.

Most distributors (other than RS) do allow you to easily report issues you spot - Without an account log-in (maybe just sometimes asking for an email contact address). I've done this quite a bit, and have had emails from Digi-key (where issues are rare) confirming they've resolved it

[Mark1960]

CAD files are available for download if you are a registered user. These seem to be the complete assembled enclosure but the internal features are visible in xray view. It might be possible to edit these CAD files to create a 3d printable version.

[Realtime]

I just downloaded the case as a step file and can separate out the top, bottom, front and rear covers plus the 4 feet. So looks like it can be printed as separate pieces. I might give it a go tomorrow.

[Mark1960]

I only loaded it into cura, I haven’t got as far as editing step files yet. What software is recommended for creating step files?

[ortek_service]

I found FreeCAD was quite-good for viewing STEP files
- Only later discovering that you also design things with it, after selecting the appropriate Workbench set of tools.

(Later versions having a lot more standard ones, than the earliest version I'd originally used).

Despite its bit-quirky UI, I never found any (free) M-CAD tool that allowed me to create a 3D model easily of an RF-Modulator component I had measured, to include on a PCB.

PTC-Creo should also do this, but probably only the rather-expensive fuller versions. With basic free viewer not even reading STEP files, I recall.

[ortek_service]

I've discovered from, here: https://www.traceparts.com/en/product/kradex-z50a-enclosures...ADEX.020&Product=90-08022023-055638
(Where you can also download CD models in STEP and a large number of other formats)
That the RS ABS Black-Colour version of these seems to be made by Kradex (Poland), who I'd not heard of before, and is type Z50A.

According to their webpage for this: https://www.kradex.com.pl/product/enclosures_with_side_panels/z50a_abs?lang=en
Where it seems if you add a J suffix i.e. Z50AJ, then you can get a Light-grey (ABS) version.
However, when you select this on there, it says to contact distributors for stock (Whereas they have 195 of the Black ones in stock)

So maybe this (sole?) manufacturer of these has discontinued that version and is why RS can no longer supply these (although the original one was Polycarbonate so maybe was a slightly-different Kradex part if they still do ones other than ABS)

This company was about the only one I found that had stock and could select the UK / price in £'s, so presumably can supply to the UK?: https://www.tme.eu/gb/details/z50aj-abs/enclosures-with-panel/kradex/z50aj-abs/
- Where they are only £2.58 (+VAT?) for 1-9off. But not sure what delivery-charges / min order value is?

[Qbertni]

TME do supply to mainland UK, they have a UK sales office that appears on the invoice and they charge VAT so no additional charges if you stay below the duty exempt level. Postage was £7.70 + VAT on my last order, I don't know if that varies.

[Realtime]

Originally Posted by Realtime

I just downloaded the case as a step file and can separate out the top, bottom, front and rear covers plus the 4 feet. So looks like it can be printed as separate pieces. I might give it a go tomorrow.

Here's the 3D print. Took about 10hrs on my Ender 3. It needs a bit of finishing around the side wall locating tabs to allow the 2 halves to fit together properly, but generally OK. Proves the downloaded 3D model is usable, but for around £3 a piece from TME I think that's a better option.

[Mark1960]

It probably only makes sense if you have a project that uses this case type but they are discontinued by the supplier. Though it would allow a much bigger choice of colours. It might also be better to modify the end panels and print them with mounting holes for components instead of cutting and drilling the standard panels.

[nlpe1goo]

Originally Posted by Realtime

Here's the 3D print. Took about 10hrs on my Ender 3. It needs a bit of finishing around the side wall locating tabs to allow the 2 halves to fit together properly, but generally OK. Proves the downloaded 3D model is usable, but for around £3 a piece from TME I think that's a better option.

Do you have the stl file? I would appreciate it so I can print the enclosure by myself. I've a Bambu P1S AMS.

[Realtime]

Here are the STL's. The top and bottom covers are identical so just need to print 2 of them.

[nlpe1goo]

Originally Posted by Realtime

Here are the STL's. The top and bottom covers are identical so just need to print 2 of them.

Are you sure that both sides are really the same? I ask this because of the 4 outer longer spacers in the corners.

[Realtime]

Originally Posted by nlpe1goo

Are you sure that both sides are really the same? I ask this because of the 4 outer longer spacers in the corners.

Ah, sorry Nick. You are right - they are different . The bottom cover has through-holes in the spacers for the fixing screws. A revised zip file is attached.

[nlpe1goo]

Originally Posted by Realtime

Ah, sorry Nick. You are right - they are different . The bottom cover has through-holes in the spacers for the fixing screws. A revised zip file is attached.

Thanks, this is better.